. Cassell's natural history. Animals; Animal behavior. NATURAL ROOKERY OF FUR SEALS. more inland to grassy hillocks ; the said areas are used as temporary resting-places, playgrounds, and neutral territory, where young, old, and infirm or wounded may resort to midisturbed. To these sandy beaches and uplands the term " Hauling-gi-ounds " is given, from the manner in which the Seals drag themselves out of the water in going towards them. From whatever reason, the adult males seem to leave the herd and betake themselves to the Pribylofl' Islands in the spring months, when, in
. Cassell's natural history. Animals; Animal behavior. NATURAL ROOKERY OF FUR SEALS. more inland to grassy hillocks ; the said areas are used as temporary resting-places, playgrounds, and neutral territory, where young, old, and infirm or wounded may resort to midisturbed. To these sandy beaches and uplands the term " Hauling-gi-ounds " is given, from the manner in which the Seals drag themselves out of the water in going towards them. From whatever reason, the adult males seem to leave the herd and betake themselves to the Pribylofl' Islands in the spring months, when, in the first few days of May, they make their appearance, and in a suspicious, doubtful manner swim idly about, apparently reluctant to land. Soon, however, the older "bulls" approach the loose rocky shore, and commence to locate themselves. Each individual animal takes possession of a piece of ground about ten feet squai-e, and, as those fresh from the sea approach, there begins a series of battles as to which is to retain the groimd first occupied. All during the month of May, and even to the first week of June, this terrible warfare proceeds incessantly, and those next the water have to resist all comers, or themselves be forced farther back. Meantime, from the beginning till almost towards the end of June, the pregnant females make theii' appearance, first in small numbers, imtil the gi-eat body arrive in mass at the close of the month. Each male retains his position as best he can, whilst some of the females hesitate to land, calling out as if in search of some particular mate. The males coaxingly strive to inveigle them ashore, and no sooner do the females a])proach than they are laid hold of, and a general warfare among the whole "rookery" ensues. The quiet, unoflfending, small-sized females are subjected to dreadful usage. The strong and powerful males secure, where possible; from twelve to fifteen partners in then- seraglio, but to retain these is inde
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjecta, booksubjectanimals
